Water softener



J- `V. BARNES WATER soFTENER Feb. 22, 1949.

2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Deo. 10, 1946 INVENTOR. @7o/#w M 54AM/5 BY Arrow/Ey Feb. z2, 1949. J. v. BARNES 2,462,154

WATER SOFTENER Filed Dc. lO, 1946 n 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIHHI INVENTOR. U70/1N M 54AM/f5 Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED l,STATE-s VPATENT `ozlrlct WATER sonrie-Nen John V, Barnes, La. Canada, Calif. Appiication December 10, 1946, serial No. 715,150

.8Clai,ms. 1

This invention relates to water softeners. The general object of the -invention is to provide a Water softener in which all operations, including normal house service, back wash, shut oif, etc.,

are controlled by a single, multiple position valve.

In one form of the invention, which I will refer to as the manual type, the valve also controls a siphoning operation for emptying Vthe softener preparatory to inserting regenerating salt by hand, and in the other form of the invention, which I will refer to as the automatic, the valve controls both siphoning and regenerating operations, the regeneration in this case being carried out by piping a salt solution into the softener from an adjacent tank.

I am aware that others have proposed water softeners having multiple control valves. However, these, prior devices liave certain shortcomings Which the present invention eliminates. As far as I am aware, in all such softeners, it is necessary, during the back wash, regeneration, siphon, bypass, etc. stages, to forego the use of house faucets .serviced by the softener, in order to prevent the salt solution used in regeneration from entering the water pipes leading to the faucets. Y

One of the objects of my invention is -to provide a water softener having a single multiple Control valve, which'provides for bypassing Water from the main'around the softenerand to the faucet lines. In one aspect of the invention, provision is made for a full bypass of a normal flow of Water around the softener, with the softener isolated from the water system (e. g. vfor purposes of repair, etc.) In another aspect of the invention, provision ismacle for a partial iiow of bypass Water around the 'softener during the regenerating, back wash, etc. phases.` This partial flow is handled by the same valve that controls the various phases of softener operation. This eliminates additional piping required in plumbing installations to and from other soft'eners.

Another object of the invention is to provide a water softener'having valve control means Yfor siphoning from the softener tank the liquid contents preparatory to the regenerating phase to make a positive means other than gravity for removing Water on top of the tank `prior to placing salt in the tank, in the case of the manual type softener (type when salt is placed in by hand). Inthe case of the automatic softener,

this setting prior to Regeneration setting" ena' fll.)

tion is exited into a Itank under atmospheric pressure. Y

More particularly, it is my object to provide a Water vsoftener which utilizes vthe force of i the water flow through the vwater circulating "system to set up a suction in a siphoning outlet' capable vof withdrawing'the liquid contents from the vscftener tank. Anoth'erobject is to provide ra water softener having such a siphoning mechanism which is controlled from the same *valve-that controls lall other phases? of vthe softener operation. 7

A further object of the'invention is to provide a water softener having a multiple controlvalve -thatis extremely Veasyto operate and that has means for accurately determining and latching they control valve in each 4of its positions.

A further objectof theinvent'ion is to provide a Water softener, which,`when installedy ina building, has an exterior `Whit-his completely free from piping except at the extreme back of the softener where it maybe situated against a wall or in a corner. More particularly, it is my object to provide asoftener vhaving a single con- -trol valve disposed' at the front of the softener and connected to multiple' piping, all of which is concealed, eliminating any external bypass valves and piping.

Another object ,ofv the'l invention is to provide a Water softener that is particularly adapted to productionmanufacturing methods. To this end', I' provide a softener in which all tubing is embodied in a manifold unit including ayfacel-plate which serves as a mountingbase forl the valve per se. It is thus possible to assemble the tub-` ingtor the face plate in anL assembly jig, prior to installation in the softener tank, touthenA as-' semble this manifold unit in the tank,l weld theparent in the ensuing specifications and'appended drawings, in which;- 1 A Fig. l is la side view of a- Water softener em-` bodying one formof my invention, with a majorityof one side of theV shell removed todiscl'ose the 4interior construction thereof; y

Fig. 2 isa front'view of the'valve of' Figrl; Fig. 3 is a sectional` view of thev valve,` taken Fig. 9 is an elevation view of the valve mounted to tank, shown partly in section;

l Fig. 10 is a front view of the valve ofa modied lform of the invention, with the automatic salting feature; v

Fig. 11 is a transverse horizontal sectional view of Fig. 19, and showing the valve in the salting position;

Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse sectiona1 view of the valve of Fig. 10, taken on the line |2-I2 of Fig. 10;

Fig.` 13 is an inverted plan view, partly in section, of the valve offFig. 10, taken on the line |3|3ofFig.10;

Fig. 14 is a schematic view of the valve of Fig. 10 shown in the normal flow position;

Fig. 15 is a schematic view of the valve of Fig. 10, shown in the shut oi position;

Fig. 16 is a schematic view of the valve of Fig. 10, shown in the back wash position;

Fig. 17 is a schematic view` of the valvefof Fig. 10, shown in the vsiphoning position;`

Fig.`18 is a schematic View of the `valve of Fig. 10, shown in the bypass position; and

Fig. 1 9` is a side view of a modified water softener embodying the valve of Fig. 10, with the majority ofthe softener shell shown in section to illustrate the internal construction.

I will now describe in detail the:

' MANUAL TYPE As an example ofv one lform in which the invention m-ay be embodied, I have shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive a Water softener which is ,of what I term a manual type. This softener includes a conventional base 20, a generally cylindrical shell 2| welded thereto and projecting upwardly, and a head 22 Welded to the shell 2| and having a threaded inletneck-23 normally closed by a screw cap 24. These parts dene the tank which is adapted to contain a conventional bed of base exchange mineral (e. g. zeolite) for softening the water.

The manifold assembly of tubing includes a Water supply inlet tube 25, a house service tube 26, a drain tube 21, -a Siphon tube 28, a tube 29 the upper end of which constitutes a top spray bar 30, and a suction line which comprises a tube 3| formed at its lower end into a bottom spray bar 32 disposed in the lower region of the softener tank. Each of the tubes 25, 26, 21, 28, 29, and 3| are securely mounted at one end in an opening in a face plate 33 to form the manifold unit.

In assembling the manifold unit in the shell 2|, the tubes 25, 25, and 21 are passed through openings in the rear side of the shell 2|, theface plate 33 is then inserted into an opening in the forward side of the shell 2| and welded to the shell and the tubes are welded or brazed to the shell. l

The advantages of bringing the connections through the back of the valve are several. fThe main advantage resides in the fact that the tubes 25, 26, and 21, connecting the softener to the house plumbing system, extend out through the back of the softener tank and directly into plumbing connections that are concealed behind the softener. This advantage is particularly heightened when the plumbing connections are in a wall against which the softener is installed. In such an arrangement, the softener presents a neat surface that is devoid of plumbing and is entirely smooth except for the valve 34 and cap 24. Such an installation can be much more readily kept clean and sanitary than one having pipes and valves obstructing its outer surface.

My improved valve, which is designated generally at 34 in Fig. 1, comprises the face plate 33, a vvalve casing 35 secured to the face plate spray vbar outlet port 3| (Fig. '7).

33 by screws 36 (Fig. 2) with a gasket 31 interposed between the face plate and the casing 35, a cylindrical valve core39 rotatably mounted in a cylindrical valve chamber 4|! in the casing 35, and a cap 4| which is secured to the forward face of the casing 35 by the screws 36. l

`Projecting from the forward face of the valve core 39 through an opening in the cap 4|, is a stub shaft 42. An enlarged portion of the stub shaft 42, journaled in a counterbore 43 in the cap 4I, has an annular groove 44 which receives an O-ring packing 45. The packing ring 45 seals the opening in the cap 4|. Keyed at 46 to the stub shaft 42 is an operating handle 41 which is secured Vby a nut 48 threaded onto the end ofthe stub shaft 42. A poppet ball 49, received in a cylindrical recess 50 inthe handle 41, is urgedby a spring 5| into engagement with a selected one of a series of recesses 52 in the cap 4| and functions to yieldingly latch the valve element in a selected operative position. Y

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the valve case 35 has a series of ports 25', 26', 21', 28', 29' and 3|"communicating respectively with the openings in the face plate 33 in which the tubes 25, 216, 21, 28, 29, and 3|, respectively, are secured. The port 2,5 enters the valve case 35 at the axis of 4the valve `core 39 and through the rear wall 53 of the valve case. The port 25 communicates With an axial passage 54 entering the valve core 39 through the rear face thereof. The ports 26', 21', 29 and 3| communicate with the valve chamber 40 through radial passages 55, 56, 51, and 58, respectively, defined within corresponding tubular arms of the valve case 35. The port 28' communicates with the radial passage 56 between the port 21 and the cylinder 40, whereby the flow of water under pressure past the port 28ktor thfiport 21 may create suction in the SiphonA tube 28, Vas will be more fully described hereinafter.

The rotatable valve core 39 is provided with a radial passage 6| extending from the axial pas sage 54 to its periphery and adapted to connect the water supply inlet 25 selectively to the upper spray barl through the port 29 (Fig. 3) or tothe house service outlet 26'.(Fig. 6) or to the bottom The valve core 39 has a chordal transfer passage 62, the ends of which open into the periphery of the valve element 39'to denne ports 63 and 64 that are disposed approximately degrees apart, with the port 64 approximately 180 degrees from` the outer end of the radial passage 6| and the port 63 ap-y proxmately 90 degrees therefrom. In order to. best achieve this arrangement, thepassage 62 eietends approximately at an angle of 45 degrees Wim-.,ierenvt? the Passage 5| and ltmid.-

..5 portion is approximately centeredbetween the periphery of the valve corey 39 and the central passage 54.-

The rotatable `valve element 39 has a radial vena-contracta orifice. It also has a pair of bleed ports `66 and .61, each opening into the periphery of the vvalve element '3.9, the former branching from the radial passage 55 and the latter branching from the radial passage I.

OPERATION OF"MANUAL TYPE In theyoperation of my improved water softener shown in Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive, the valve 34 mal7 be utilized to control .all of the following operations, except the salting operation:

Normal service Adjustment of the valve to the. position shown inIFigs. 1 tol inclusive places the radial passage 6I-rof the rotatable valve element39 in communication with casing passage 51 and the ports 63 and 64 of the chordal passage 62 of the rotatable valve core in communication with casing passages 55 and-58 respectively, the passage 56 being cut City (hard) water enters the valve 34 from the Water supply inlet tube through the port 25 in the rear wall 53 of the valve case 35, thence through central passage 54 and radial lpassage 6lA in ltheprotatable valve core 39 (Figs.,3 and 4),

thence through peripheral passage-51, andport 29' in the valve case 35, thence through tube 29 and top spray bar 30 from which it is sprayed upon the mineral bed and passes through the bed, re-

taining gravel 90, bottom spray bar 32, tube 3I port 3l' and peripheral passage 58 in the valve case 35, thence through chordal passage 52 to radial passage 55 and port 26' in the valve case 35, and thence through port 26' and house service tube 2li to the piping leading 4to the :house service outlets (faucets, etc.).

Bypass By adjusting the valve 34 to the position shown schematically in Fig. 6, the radial passage GI of the rotatable valve element 39 is placed in communication with the house service outlet passage 55 and ports 26', while all communication between the water supply inlet 25 and the other radial passages 55, 51, 58 of the valve casing, is cu-t off. Thus, although the chordal transfer passage 62 is in communication with drain outlet port 21' and lower spray bar port 3l there is no resulting circulation through thek softener or to the drain, hence inlet pressure is cut off from A- both the spray bars and the drain. This makes it possible, in the event that the softener commences to function improperly, Lto isolate the softener from the water system and establish direct (hard water) service to the house service outlet to meet temporary needs pending the commencement of regeneration or repair operations on the sof-tener, and the change over is effected by the simple operation of shifting the valve 34 to the Fig. 6 position. The direct house service which is thus provided is a full ii'ow contrasted to the partial flow to house service that is provided in the backwash and vregenerating operations which will now be described.

Backwash By adjusting the valve 34 to the position shown schematically in Fig, 7, the rotatable valve elemerit passage 6| is placed in partial communicationwith casing passage 58 and-lower spray bar 3|', the bleed passage 6B is placed in communication with house service outlet yport .26', andthe ports l63 and 64 of the transferpassage-'BZtare placed Ain partial communication respectively Iwith the upper spray vbarrport 29' and the passage 56 andzdrain loutlet port2l'. The partial opening is made to provide. a ,limited` .rate of water flowito keep the mineral bed from being-.Washed .out of the softener.

With these connections established, theiiow from the supply inlet 25 is divided between the lower spray bar 3.2 and the house service linex26, the majorityof the flow ,being Ydirected vto .the lower spray :bar 32,. The .flow through'the softener will be a reverse iiow from thelower Kspray bar 32'upwardly throughA the mineral bed, tothe -upper spray .bar3 4back to thevalve, and thence through the transfer port 62 to the drain outlet. Thus, there is providedv the fbackwash lflow which is .utilized for washing impurities from the yupper layers of the mineral bed into the ydrain and freeingk the intersticesof `the mineral bed for-a ,full iiow of water therethrough when nor-mal house service is resumed.

Regeneration Two steps are required for regeneration, namely, (1) siphoningxand (2) salting. My invention provides for automatic siphoning .oii of the contents of the softener tank, above the mineral bed, by simply shifting .the valve '34 Atothe position shown schematically in Fig. 8. In this position, the vena-conti'acta orifice 65. of .the rotatable valve core 39 is placed in communication with casing passage'5'6 and drain outlet port 21j', and the bleed passage''! is placed in communication with the house service outlet passage and ports '25', while communication to both of the spray bars is cut off. Consequently,` the flow from the water supply inlet port 25 is divided .between the house service outlet 26' .and the .drain outlet 2l', the majority of the ,flow being ,directed to the drain outlet port 2.1.

The cap 24 of the softener tank .is yeither removed or loosened so as to establishatmospheric pressure in the tank. The vena-contracta orii-lc'e'ii directs va high .speed jet of water to the drain outlet port 2l" .past the siphon port 28'., setting up. an aspirating suction in the ,siphon tube 2.8 whichV functions to withdraw the liquid from the softener tank through .the orifices 1I in the tube 2.8, until the level of .the liquid has been drawn down to :that of .the orifices.

vIn'the salting operatiomsalt is .inserted by hand into the tank through theneck 23. and is dissolved in the water remaining in the tank, providing the brine mixture which is utilized in regenerating the mineral bed.

AUTOMATIC TYPE In the form of the invention shown iin Figs. v10 to 19 inclusive, features that .are similar to those of Figs. l to 9 inclusive are indicated by corresponding reference characters. Features that are similar with the exception of slight modifications therein, .are indicated ley-corresponding .reference 'characters with they sufx ai rFor example, kthewater supply -inlet tube 25ainstead of entering the `valve through the shell 2l, is shown directly entering through the periphery of the valve casing-35a and connecting with a radial passage 25u/which makes a vright angled bend to become the axial passage 54.

" "The drain 'outlet-tube l21a, and the house service outlet tube4 26a-'are likewise shown 'entering'the' `valvecasing through the periphery thereof.` It is to beunderstood, however, that this showing is merely illustrative of the fact that it is possible to bring these connections in through the periphery of the vvalve rather than through `the back of the valve, although the advantages of bringing the connections through the back ofthe valve may be incorporated in this modied form of the invention the same as in the previously described form.

I provide, in addition to the mechanism and afunctions of the previously described form, an automatic salting mechanism which includes an elbow passage in the valve case, communicating through a chamber 16 with a salting port 11 in the face plate 33a. A salt line 18, leading from a brine tank, enters the periphery of the valve casing 35a, andv communicates with the chamber 16 adjacent the port 11. In the passage 15, betweenthe chamber 15 and the passage 15, is a nozzle 19 which is adapted to direct a high velocity stream of water through the port 11 and to create in the salt line 18 an aspirating suction which draws the brine solution into the chamber 16.

There is provided, in the rotatable valve core, a radial passage 80 which is adapted 4to register with the passage 15 as shown in Figs. 11 and 13. In the salt line 18 is a globe valve 8| and in the drain line 21a is a similar valve 82.

OPERATION oF AUTOMATIC TYPE The construction of the fully automatic form of the invention will be understood from the foreging comparison to the manual form, and from the Vfollowing description of operation:

Normal flow Referring rst to Fig. 14, the adjustment of the valve 34a to the normal flow position brings the rotatable valve element passage 6| into communication with the casing passage 51 and house service outlet port 2S and places the transfer passage 62 in communication with the casing passages 58 and 55 respectively. Water enters the valve through supply line 25a, and passages 25'a and 54, and leaves through passages 6| and 51 and port 29 to upper spray bar 29a. From the spray bar 29a it is sprayed into the tank, and passes through the mineral bed and gravel 90, to the lower spray bar 32a. From the lower spray bar, the softened Water passes upwardly through the tube 3|' to the port 3| and then passes through the valves in passages 58, 62 and 55 to the house service line 26a.

Shutoff Fig. 15 shows the shutoi position of the valve 34a, in which both the house service and the drain outlets 55 and 56 are cut oi so that no water can leave. the softener.

Backwash Adjustment of the Valve 34a to the backwash position shown in Fig. 16 placesthe radial port 6| of the rotatable valve element in partial communication with'casing passage 58 and lower spray 8 spray bar port 3| and thence through tube 3| and lowerV spray bar 32a into the bottom. ofthe tank. The water then passes upwardly.` through the mineral bed, washing out any impurities therein, enters the upper spraybar, 29a, passes into the valve throughA port 29', and vpasses through the valve in passages 51, 62,\and 56 to drain outlet tube 21a. f; The partial communication between .passage 6| and 56 restricts the flow in a manner to prevent turbulence of water entering the tank, thus avoiding loss of mineral throughthe spray bars.

Regeneratng i Regenerating includes the two steps of siphoning the contents from the'tank and piping a salt solution into the tank. f

Siphoning is eiected by shfting `the valve 34a to the position shown in Fig. 17, in which the radial passage 86 of the rotatable valve core is placedin communication with the house service outlet passage and vena-contracta orifice 65 is placed inl communication with the casing passage 56. La. Siphoning ilow is from city water inlet tube 25a through central passage 54 and ahigh velocity jet issues through orifice to draintube 21a past port 28 which is connected to Siphon tubes 28a extending down to just above the mineral bed:

The high velocity jet creates an aspirating suction in the port 28' `which draws the luidfrom` the tank through the siphon 1ine28a and passes it into the drain tube 21a. The vacuum set up in the tank is sufficient to offset the `tension of spring 9| of relief valve 92 whereupon ball 93 that seals under pressure falls and allows atmospheric` pressure to enter the tank, allowing the water to be siphone'd out. f

`40 The siphon tube 28a extendsy to a' point fairly near the bottom of the tank so that a suillcient volume of water is siphoned from the tank to permit the insertion of a maximum quantity of brine during the Ysalting step. v

Salting is effected by shifting the valve to the'v position shown in Fig. 11,A afterV the siphoning step has been completed. In this position of the valve, radial passage 6| is placed in communication with casing passage 55 and passage 8i] is in communication with nozzle 19.

The globe valves 8| and l82 are in their opened positions.

Salting flow is from supply inlet 25a to port 54, from which the ow divides and goes` through pas-sages 6| and 55 to tube 26a for house"service and through radial passage and elbow passage` 15 to nozzle 15|v through which a high velocity stream of city water is injected into chamber' 16 and through opening vena contracte. orifice 11 in face plate 33. ,The aspirating action of this high velocity stream creates a. suction in the salt line 18 and draws the salt solution from the solution re's ervoir through the open valve 8| into the chamber 16, where .it mingles with the stream of water` ejectedfrom the nozzle 1'9 and passes into ,the softener tank through the salt port 11. y

Should the salting operation be permitted'to., proceed beyond the point where the the brine rises in the tank tothe level of the drain tube 21a, the excess brine will pass through the bottom spray bar and tube 3|, port 3|--, passages 58,62 and-56, to the drain tube 21a. through` which it will-be discharged to the drain through the open valve82.

y Bypass Adjustment of the valve 34a to the bypass position shown in Fig. '18 places the rotatable valve element 33a in the same position as it occupies in v the salting step just described. However, the globe valve 82 in the drain tube 27a is closed in order to prevent any `circulation of water or salt solution through the softener, and valveV 18! in the salt line`is closed at the completion of salting. Consequently, although passage Silin communication with passage 'l5v and diagonal passage ois in communication with passages 58 and 56, there will be no flow through these connections, and the only flow will be from the supply inlet tube 25a to port 54 and passage 6l to passage 55 and house service tube 26a.

I claim:

1. In a water softener, the combination with a tank for holding a softening agent, a control valve including a casing having a rear wall exposed within the tank, upper and lower spray bars within the tank, each having a connection to the valve through said rear wall, house service, drain and l water inlet tubes extending transversely through the tank from front to rear thereof and having connections with the valve through said rear wall, and a valve core in said valve casing adjustable to a normal service position providing for normal now through the tank and to house service connection, and a backwash position providing for reverse flow through the tank and to the drain outlet tube.

2. In a water softener, the combination with a tank for holding a softening agent, a valve conrear side of the valve, said valve being adjustable to a position providing for normal ow through the tank and to the house service tube and a backwash position providing reverse flow through the tank and to the drain outlet.

3. In a water softener, in combination with a tank for holding a softener agent, a valve including a casing attached to the forward side of the shell of said tank, upper and lower spray in the the tank, connected to the rear side of said casing, house service, water inlet, and drain tubes passing transversely through the tank from the rear to the front thereof and having connections with the rear side of said casing, and siphon tube in the tank connected to the rear side of said casing; and a valve core in said casing adjustable to a position in which it provides for normal flow from the water inlet to the upper spray bar and from the lower spray bar to the house service connection, a backwash position in which it provides for reverse ow from the water inlet to the lower spray bar and from the upper spray bar to the drain outlet, and a siphoning position in which it provides for flow from the inlet to the drain, said valve casing including an operating connection between the drain connection and the siphon tube connection, such as to establish a suction in the siphon tube as the result of direct flow from the inlet to the drain,

4. A valve for a water softener including a tank for containing a softening agent and having a siphon outlet connection, said valve including a valve casing having a city water inlet, connections to house service and drain outlet lines and a i0 connection between `said drain outlet line "and said siphon outlet connection, said valve including a rotatable valve element having a vena-contracta orifice adapted in one position of said valve to deliver a jet of water from said city water inlet past said siphon connection'to said drain outlet connection, and' to therebyproduce an aspirating action establishing suction insaid siphon outlet connection for withdrawing liquid from the tank, said valve adapted infanother 'position to `establish normal ow through the softener.

51. In a water softener, a tank for containing 'a softening agent, upper andflowerY spray bars `and a siphon outlet in said tank, anda Acontrol valve embodying a casing having a city water inlet, connections to said upper and lower spray bars, to

said siphon outlet and to house service and drain outlet lines respectively, said valve including a rotatable valve element having a vena-contracta orifice adapted, in one position of said valve, to deliver a jet of 'water from said city water inlet to said drain outlet, said siphon outlet having a connection with said drain outlet such as to establish suction in said siphon outlet by an aspirating action as a result of the flow of said jet, and said valve element adapted in another position to establish normal ow through the softener.

6. In a water softener, a tank for containing a softening agent, upper and lower spray bars and a siphon outlet therein,` and a control valve including a valve casing having connections to said spray bars and siphon outlet, and having city water inlet and house service and drain outlet connections, said valve including a rotating valve element having a vena-contracta orifice adapted duce an aspirating action for establishing suction in said siphon outlet for withdrawing liquid from the tank, said valve in another position connecting said city water inlet to the upper spray bar and said lower spray bar to the house service outlet for normal house service operation, and in i another position connecting said city water inlet to the lower spray bar and the lower spray bar to the drain outlet for backwash operation.

7. In a water softener, a tank for containing a softening agent, upper and lower spray bars and a siphon outlet in said tank, and a control valve embodying a casing having connections to said upper and lower spray bars, to said siphon outlet and to house service and drain outlet lines respectively, said valve including a rotatable valve element having an orifice adapted, in one position of said valve, to deliver a jet of water from said city water inlet to said drain outlet, said siphon outlet having a connection with said drain outlet such as to establish suction in said siphon outlet by an aspirating action as a result of the flow of said jet, said valve element adapted in another position to establish normal flow through the softener, and in another position establishing a direct bypass from the city water inlet to the house service outlet and shutting off the connections to the water softener so as to isolate the softener from the water circulation system.

8. A valve for a water softener having a tank for containing a softening agent, and having a siphon outlet, said valve including a casing having a city water inlet, house service and drain outlets, a connection between said siphon outlet and said drain outlet, and ow connections to the tank, the` valve including a valveY core having anorice for delivering'to said drain outlet from the city water inlet a jet adapted to establish suction in said siphon outlet for withdrawing liquid from the tank, said Valve core including a main city water passage to one of the ilow connections to the tank and to connect the other ow connection to the house service outlet for normal softener operationfand in another position to connect saidv orice tothe drain for siphoning operation and to connect said bleed passage to thehouse service connection for establishing a limited bypass for delivering city water to the house service outlet.

. JOHN V. BARNES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: 

